Texas coach Sean Miller’s Longhorns lost their SEC opener 101-98 to the Mississippi State Bulldogs in overtime on Sunday. The loss dropped the Longhorns to 9-5Â for the season ahead of a tough conference slate.
Despite playing in front of their home fans, the Longhorns trailed the Bulldogs by five points at halftime, and Texas was outrebounded in the game, allowing Mississippi State to grab 19 offensive rebounds.
Fans Criticize Sean Miller’s Comments After Texas Loss
During his postgame news conference, Miller used a winding analogy to criticize his team’s defensive effort in the loss to the Bulldogs.
“We have to coach those guys better in those areas,” Miller said. “Now, if I tell you not to cross the street, and I keep telling you, and I say, I swear, whatever you do, do not cross the street, and you do, and the bus hits you, I’m gonna take responsibility as your parent.
“But damn it, how many times do I have to tell you not to cross the street? We’ve got some of that going on.”
College basketball fans on X had mixed reactions to the outspoken Miller’s comments, calling out his team’s defensive performance.
“Heard a similar speech multiple times when he was at Arizona,” one fan tweeted.
One fan was certainly unhappy with Miller’s comment and said, “Throwing kids under that bus lol.”
“It speaks volumes about his character and fitness as a coach that he essentially called the players uncoachable in a press conference,” one fan opined.
“Victim…I’m over him already. I hope I’m wrong,” one fan tweeted.
“Ah yes. It’s not Sean’s fault!!!” Another fan tweeted.
Miller, who was the Xavier Musketeers coach, replaced Rodney Terry as the Longhorns’ coach in March last year after they failed to advance past the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament for two consecutive seasons.
Miller Blasts Texas Veteran After O.T. Loss
Texas veteran Jordan Pope made a crucial foul on Mississippi State’s Jayden Epps with 3:10 remaining in regulation time, allowing the Bulldogs guard to score both free throws. The points by Epps boosted his team’s momentum, which included seven straight points to tie the game and send it to overtime.
During his postgame news conference, Miller blasted Pope for fouling Epps, allowing Mississippi State back into the game.
“You can’t foul a guy 27 feet from the basket on a fadeaway, step-back three, one second on the clock, and look at the ref like he did something wrong. That’s the guy you want to play against. That’s not the guy you want to have on your team,” Miller said.
The slate does not get easier for Miller’s team as they go on the road to Tuscaloosa to face the No. 13 Alabama Crimson Tide before hosting the No. 11 Vanderbilt Commodores.